CHRISTMAS AT DODDINGTON
To conserve, restore, enhance and protect the natural and cultural heritage of Doddington for the long-term benefit of the wider community.
To enable the wider community to benefit from the many opportunities arising from Doddington’s natural and cultural heritage: learning, volunteering, research skills development and wellbeing.
With a degree in Geography from Cambridge and a life-long passion for the natural world and sustainability, Claire started her career in advertising and marketing in London. This was followed by several years at an environmental charity working on strategy, communications, events and fundraising. When she and husband James took over Doddington Hall from her parents in 2006 she applied this experience and passion to re-invigorating this historic house and the wider estate for the twenty-first century (and beyond).
The first project to restore the walled kitchen garden to produce fruit and vegetables for a new farm shop and café needed all these skills and more; and subsequently a similar blend of knowledge about sustainability and dextrous fundraising, along with strong teamwork with James has resulted in a huge range of projects from restoring seventeenth century tapestries, installation of the first biomass boiler in the county, opening up new businesses and most recently the inspiring Wilder Doddington project with its ambition to be an exemplar of a ‘Natural Capital’ approach – to demonstrate the full value of nature recovery: ecological, social and economic.
Claire Brainerd, American by birth, adopted Lincolnshire as her home nearly thirty years ago. She owns and manages Stubton Hall, Newark, a country house events venue, and is also an art historian specialising in Italian art and collecting from the fifteenth through seventeenth centuries. She is passionate about celebrating and preserving the heritage of her adopted country, especially in regard to stately homes, their contents, and their settings.
“When I first visited Doddington Hall as a tourist in the 1980s, little did I know that I would one day move to Lincolnshire and become so intrinsically involved with the future of this great Elizabethan house and its surrounding land.”
Lucy is a casual naturalist, wildlife communicator and proud nature nerd. She currently campaigns on wildlife issues, as well as sharing her wild finds and passion for them on social media as Lucy Lapwing. She’s also a big advocate of green prescriptions, following a cancer diagnosis in her early 20s, and wants to see fair, equitable and widespread access to nature for people.
“It’s properly exciting to imagine Wilder Doddington’s ambitions coming to fruition. A place of history opening its doors to people and wildlife alike. I’m looking forward to seeing the project connect local folks with the land at Doddington, and see the results for nature there too.”
Dr Jason O’Rourke, Headteacher of Washingborough Academy, is renowned for the school’s pioneering curriculum emphasising healthy living and food education. The academy is the sole in-house school caterer with the Soil Association’s prestigious Gold Catering Mark. As the UK representative on the SAPERE International Board, co-founder and trustee of TastEd, and a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on School Food, Jason has significantly contributed to the field. He received the Educatering School Food Plan Awards in 2016 and The Caroline Walker Trust Food Hero of The Year 2019, aligning with his doctorate focus on Food Education and School Leadership.
Mary Powell is Tourism Manager for Lincolnshire County Council. She first became involved with the restoration of the Doddington tapestries in an innovative partnership with Lincoln Castle.
“Doddington Hall is a very special place. The lovely house and gardens all with fascinating stories to tell; Sir John Delaval being a particular favourite character. But Doddington Hall is always looking forward and the plans for Wilder Doddington are really impactful and will make a difference. A treat to be involved.”
Emma Tatlow is Chief Executive of Active Lincolnshire and understands the benefit that nature and green spaces have on people’s physical and mental wellbeing and the positive impact that access to places like Doddington has on local peoples lives. Emma also has many years of experience working in tourism, marketing and communications and is proud to be a part of the team of Trustees to support Doddington in its commitment to innovation to the future.
“Living close to Doddington Hall, I have seen the business develop and grow over the last decade and am a frequent visitor – as a keen cyclist to the bike shop and the Georgie Twigg Track, relaxing with yoga on the lawn in the summer, visiting the farm shop and café for brunch with friends and family. I am excited to be a part of this next phase in the development of the estate, that will bring so many benefits to the environment and to local people.”